Device for cutting paper



March 1, 1966 L. H. COOK DEVICE FOR CUTTING PAPER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 22, 1964 y M V INVENTOR. LAWRENCE H. COOK BY 6 mil q 7% ATTORNEYS March 1, 1966 L. H. COOK DEVICE FOR CUTTING PAPER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 22, 1964 INVENTOR LAWRENCE H. COOK mil ATTORNEYS March 1, 1966 H. COOK DEVICE FOR CUTTING PAPER 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 22, 1964 Y wnmm INVENTOR LAWRENCE H COOK United States Patent 3,237,497 DEVICE FOR CUTTING PAPER Lawrence H. Cook, 345 Stockbridge Ave., Atherton, Calif. Filed Jan. 22, 1964, Ser. No. 339,420 15 Claims. (Cl. 83387) This invention relates to a device for cutting paper and the like, in single sheets or a plurality thereof, and has as one of its objects the provision of a paper cutting device that can be of any practical desired length.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of means for clamping and holding paper during the cutting thereof which means will hold said paper securely and with uniform pressure throughout the length thereof, preventing the tendency of a plurality of sheets of paper to shift or turn while being cut.

Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of a paper cutter the paper clamping means of which can be actuated from either of two ends and the cutting blade of which can be drawn in a cutting stroke in either of two directions.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of a relatively compact paper cutting unit which is extremely versatile in that it can be used in conjunction with a portable board, attached to a wall or a desk or table edge, or used in any desirable and practical location or position.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the description and the drawmgs.

In the drawings, FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred form of this invention in conjunction with a portable, ruled cutting board.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary elevational view taken generally along line 22 of FIG. 1, portions thereof being broken away and shown in cross-section.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2 showing the relationships of the various parts after a degree of relative movement therebetween.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the cutter unit of this invention as it may be used on the edge of a desk or table.

FIG. 6 is an end elevational view of the structure of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a partially cross-sectioned, side elevational view of a modified form of the present invention, a central portion thereof being broken away.

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of a modified blade carriage of the present invention, the protective plate thereof being removed to show a cutting blade arrangement and structure.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view of a modified form of a portion of the invention that is shown in FIGS. 2, 3.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a modified form of the cutter holder shown in FIGS. 2-4.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view taken along line 1111 of FIG. 10 showing the blade clamping means.

In general, and referring first to FIG. 1, the basic cutter unit 1 is shown in relation to a portable cutting board 2 of general design. Board 2 may have an elevated ridge 3 thereon extending perpendicular to the cutting unit 1 at one end thereof for the purpose of squaring paper for cutting. Board 2 may be ruled along said ridge 3 and perpendicular thereto if desired. Further board 2 may be imprinted with a protractor 4 for cutting paper at angles and the more common angles may be extended and printed on the board as at 5. Several handle openings 6 may be provided for carrying the board and cutter unit.

In detail, and referring now to FIGS. 2 and 4, cutter unit 1 includes a base member 9 which, in the preferred form of the invention, may be an elongated tubular extrusion. Base member 9 can be of any practical length depending on the desired length of the cutter unit.

Extending substantially the length of the upper surface 10 of base member 9 is a relatively narrow, elongated slot 11 (FIGS. 2 and 4). Slot 11 is adapted to receive a cutter blade therein for reciprocal movement longitudinally of member 9.

Secured to either end of member 9 is an upright end post 14 that extends a substantial distance upwardly from the upper surface member 9. A projection 12 on the lower end of each post 14 is received within the hollow base member 9 and secured thereto by a screw 13. The lower portion 15 of posts 14 may be of substantially the same width as member 9 (FIGS. 2, 4) the reason for which will be explained later. The upper portion 16 of post 14 may be somewhat wider than lower portion 15 and said portions are joined by a tapered central portion.

Extending between the upper ends 16 of posts 14, and secured thereto similar to the manner in which member 9 is secured to the lowerends thereof, is a downwardly opening preferably extruded channel member 19.

Slidably received within this downwardly opening channel member 19 is a clamping bar actuator member 20 which may be made of metal or plastic. Actuator 20 extends downwardly from channel 19 to a point above the upper surface 10 of base member 9 (FIGS, '1, 2, 4). Longitudinally of actuator 26) is a downwardly opening slot 21 extending the length thereof and forming a pair of depending protective curtains 22, 23.

Actuator 20 extends somewhat short of the distance between end posts 14 and is reciprocally slidably supported thereon by supporting rods 24 secured to each post 14 and extending oppositely inwardly into slot 21 at either end of actuator 20.

Received within the lower end of slot 21 of actuator 20 is a vertical flange 26 of a clamping bar 25, a horizontal flange 27 thereof extending over the upper surface 10 of base member 11 and parallel thereto. Clamping bar 25 extends the full distance between posts 14 and the ends thereof are slidably received between a pair of guide rails 28 projecting inwardly from the inner surface of each post. Clamping member 25 may be conveniently extruded in an inverted T shape or an L shape, among others.

The lower surface of the horizontal flange of clamping bar 25 is the portion of the bar that engages paper to clamp it during a cutting operation and said surface may be covered with some form of friction material 29 to make it substantially slip-proof.

Clamping bar 25 is supported from actuator 20 by a plurality pin and link arrangement as best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3. The link 30 has enlarged rounded lower end 31 which is adapted to be pivotally received in a complementarily formed socket 32 formed in vertical flange 26 of clamp 25. Link 30 could be pivotally connected to flange 26 by a standard pivot pin, however, the disclosed pivotal connection results in a desirable narrower cross-section.

The upper end of link 30 is secured to actuator 20 by a pin 33 extending through an elongated slot 34 in link 30 and secured at its ends in curtains 22 and 23.

Interposed between the upper end of each link 30 and the closed upper side of slot 21 is a leaf spring 36 which is adapted to apply a continual downwardly directed pressure on link 3t) and thus yieldably urge clamping bar 25 toward surface 10 of base member 9.

Slidably supported on channel 19 for longitudinally reciprocal movement thereon is a knife carriage 40 (FIGS. 2, 3, 4). Carriage 40 may be made of an inner bearing member 41 which is substantially enclosed in an outer layer :or shell 42.

Bearing 41 may be made of a plastic material and conforms in cross-sectional contour to the outside of channel 19 (FIG. 4). The inner surface of bearing 41 is in sliding engagement with the outer surface of said channel. Lower portions of bearing 41 are in sliding engagement with portions of depending curtains 22, 23.

Outer shell 42 is of substantially the same length as bearing 41 and is formed to extend around said bearing in close fitting relation and is secured to the outer surface of said bearing so that the two members can be moved together as a unit.

Outer shell 42 has a downwardly depending flange 43 formed integrally therewith which extends downwardly along and in sliding engagement with curtain 23. Flange 43 serves as a mounting support for the blade of the carriage 40. Projecting outwardly from the side of flange 43 are a pair of short pins 44, one of which may be threaded. These pins are adapted to receive thereon a razor-type double edge blade 45 in an angular disposition so that one corner of said blade will extend downwardly past the lower end of said flange and will be received in the slot 11 in the upper surface 10 of base member 9.

Pins 44 also extend through apertures in a face plate 46 which is secured in place over blade 45 by a knurled nut 47 which is threadedly received on threaded pin 44. Face plate 46 is of substantially the same configuration as flange 43 (FIGS. 2-4).

Formed in the upper edge of actuator 20 (FIGS. 2 and 3) and communicating with slot 21 is a slot 50 within which is pivotally mounted, as by pivot 51, an inclined locking lever 52. The upper end of lever 52 extends upwardly past actuator 20 and through a slot 53 formed in the web of channel 19 and in register with slot 50. Bearing 41 of carriage 40 also has a slot 54 formed therein into which the upper end of lever 52 extends when said carriage is in the position of FIG. 2.

The lower end of lever 52 is longer and heavier than said upper end and extends downwardly through slot 21 toward and may rest on the upper edge of flange 26 of clamping bar 25, being held there by gravity. It is obvious that lever 52 could be urged into the above described inclined position by spring means, and a spring would be desirable in installations where the cutter unit 1 might be mounted on a vertical wall.

Interposed between the post 14 of FIGS. 2 and 3 and the end of carriage 40 adjacent thereto is a peg 55 which is rigidly secured to actuator 20 and which projects upwardly therefrom through and is reciprocal in a slot 56 formed in the web of channel 19 (FIG.

In operation of the form of this invention as described in relation to FIGS. 1-6 a plurality of sheets of paper, or a single sheet thereof, are placed between surface of base 9 and clamping bar 25. The paper may be squared and measured along ridge 3 or may be angularly disposed using protractor 4 on board 2.

When the papers are properly in place carriage 40 may be grasped by the hand of the operator and moved in a cutting direction or in the direction of arrow 60. As seen in FIG. 2, when carriage 40 moves in the direction of arrow 60, a shoulder 61 which is one of the closed ends of slot 54, engages the upwardly extending end of looking lever 52. With said shoulder and said end in engagement, actuator 20, to which the locking lever is attached, will move with, and under the influence of, carriage 40. Since channel 19, within which actuator is slidable, is stationary, the movement of said actuator 4 and carriage 40 is limited by the length of slot 53 in the web of said channel.

When the upwardly facing inclined edge of lever 52 engages end 63 of slot 53, the upper end of lever 52 will be cammed downwardly out of engagement with shoulder 61 at about the position shown in FIG. 3. When shoulder 61 clears said upper end, carriage 40 is free to move on in the direction of arrow 60 in a cutting stroke until it engages the post 14 at the opposite end of the cutting unit, leaving actuator in the position where engagement between said shoulder and said upper end terminated.

As actuator 20 is moved in the direction of arrow 60, pin 33 (FIGS. 2, 3) is also moved in said direction and as pin 33 moves horizontally it rotates link in socket 32. The distance between pin 33 and the centerpoint of lower end 31 of link 30 is shortened and as said pin approaches a point of vertioal alignment over said centerpoint clamping bar 25 is lowered until it makes firm contact with the papers between it and base member 9. After this contact is made link 30 is rotated further by pin 33 moving with actuator 20, and the further shortening of the distance between pin 33 and the centerpoint of the lower end 31 of link 30 as the two approach vertical alignment will be taken up by the pin and slot relation between pin 33 and slot 34 (FIG. 3). When pin 33 no longer engages the upper end of slot 34, clamping bar 25 is still urged downwardly under the urgency of spring 36. Thus a yieldable but firm pressure is maintained on any papers which are in a position to be cut during the cutting thereof.

It can be seen that by having a plurality of link connectors 30 spaced throughout the length of clamping bar 25, said bar will be raised and lowered uniformly throughout the length thereof in the manner of operation of parallel rules, and an even pressure will be applied throughout to the paper being cut. This will prevent the tendency of the paper to shift and twist as it does in cutting devices where the pressure is applied only in the proximity of the cutter.

Link 30 can be rotated just past vertical alignment in order to assure the locking of clamping bar 25 in a clamping position.

As seen in FIG. 3, the clamping operation above described is completed before the exposed cutting edge of blade 45 reaches a position to begin cutting, the position of the paper being determined by the location of squaring ridge 3.

After the carriage and the actuator 20 are disengaged and the paper is secured in place, said carriage can be drawn to the post 14 at the opposite end of the cutter unit from that shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 and the paper fragments made in the cutting process are forced through slot 11 and down into the hollow base member 9.

After the paper is cut the carriage 40 is returned along channel 19 in the opposite direction until the end of said carriage engages peg 55. From the position of FIG. 3 the peg 55, rigidly secured to actuator 20, is forced back into engagement with post 14 under the pressure applied by carriage 40. As actuator 20 is moved to the position of FIG. 2 at the end of the return stroke of carriage 40, the distance between pin 33 and the centerpoint of the lower end 31 of link 30 is lengthened, causing clamping bar 25 to be raised to a paper releasing position and the cutter is again ready to receive and cut paper.

As mentioned earlier, unit 1 can be used independently of board 2. As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 the cutter unit 1 can be mounted on and used in conjunction with any standard table or desk top 70.

The cutter unit 1 is secured to the side of the table as by screws 72 with the surface 10 of base member 9 substantially in the same plane as the surface of the table. In this regard it will be noted that since the lower end 15 of posts 14 are of the same Width as base member 9, there,

is no gap between said base member and the edge of the table or desk to which it is attached.

Base member 9 is provided with a plurality of apertures in each of the vertical sides thereof which receive therethrough the screws 72 with which the unit 1 may be attached to a table 70. Aperture 65 (FIGS. 2 and 3) may be only large enough to pass the shank of a screw whereas the aperture 66 in the opposite vertical side may pass the screw head also. By mounting the unit in this manner the apertures 66 can be used to remove any lint or paper fragments from hollow base 9 which may be deposited there during cutting operations.

A squaring ridge 71, similar to ridge 3 on board 2, may be secured to table 70 in order to assure squareness of the paper which is cut and the ridge itself may be ruled for measuring paper.

It should be understood that the cutting unit .1 can also be mounted on a vertical wall and could be located just under a wall mounted roll of wrapping paper or the like.

It will be appreciated that the longer the cutting unit 1 is, the greater is the force that must be exerted on carriage 40 in the initial movement in a cutting direction in order to move actuator 40 and thereby move clamping bar 25 to a paper clamping position. Thus, in longer cutting units 1, such as may be used in conjunction with large reproduction machines, it may be desirable to provide a different means for moving the actuator.

As seen in FIG. 7, manually graspa'ble handles 74 may be provided for moving a slightly modified actuator 75. Actuator 75 may have longitudinally projecting extensions 76 thereon which slidably extend through openings in end post 77. Handles 74 are threadedly secured to the upwardly directed edges of extensions 76 and are spaced apart in such a manner as to limit the movement of actuator 75 to approximate the movement of actuator 20 of FIGS. 1-4.

Provision is made for changing the location of handles 74 to an alternative set of threaded sockets, thereby reversing the direction of movement of actuator 75 in lowering and raising clamping bar 78. Further, the handles can be secured to the outermost locations on extensions 76 and the actuator would be moved in only one direction to both lower and raise clamping bar 78 in one complete cutting operation. In the latter case a spring and ball detent could be provided in either or both of the end posts 77 to yieldably hold actuator 75 in a central position in which clamp 78 would be in a paper clamping position.

It should be understood that with minor modifications, any of the forms of the cutting unit can be made to perform a cutting operation by moving the blade carniage in either direction. A cutting unit which will *cut in both directions may be desirable in especially long units wherein the carriage may even have to be walked from end to end of the unit.

In the form of this invention illustrated in FIGS. 1-6, a locking lever 52 and release peg 55 could be provided at both ends of the cutting unit 1 in opposed relation but otherwise the same.

In combination with the form of the invention shown in FIGS. l-6 and the modification of FIG. 7 a different cutting blade arrangement would have to be used. Such a blade arrangement and the carriage associated therewith is illustrated in FIG. 8.

Carriage 80 (FIG. 8) is of basically the same construction as carriage 40 of FIGS. 1-6 except that the depending flange 81 thereof may be provided with as many as five pins projecting outwardly therefrom, on four of which two identical double edge blades 82 are mounted. Blades 82 are formed and mounted in such a manner as to cooperate in forming a cutting blade with an edge which is adapted to cut when moved in either of two opposite directions and preferably and cutting edge formed by the two blades is V-shaped. Blades constructed and mounted in accordance with FIG. 8 can also be used 6 singly in cutting units adapted to cut in only one direction.

The fifth pin 83 in flange 81 may be threaded to receive a knurled nut similar to nut 47 (FIG. 4) for securing a protective face plate over blades 82.

While the form and structure of carriage 40, which includes elements 41-47, and the form and structure of the locking and releasing means for the clamping bar actuator 20 that includes the elements 5061, are satisfactory, the modifications in said carraige, and locking and releasing means, as shown in FIGS. 9, 10, 11 have certain features that may be considered preferable. The ultimate results are substantially the same, and most of the remaining structure in FIGS. 2-6 are the same, or similar.

In FIG. 1 the end posts 14 are progressively wider in an upward direction, but in FIGS. 9-11 the width at is the same, and this latter width is the same as that of base member 91, and upper channel member 92, which, in turn are of the same width as the base member 9 and channel member 19 of FIGS. 2-6.

In FIG. 9 the web 93 of the upper channel member 92, which is uppermost, is not apertured, as was the case of the member 19. Instead, the opposed, vertical sidewalls 94 of the inverted channel member 92 are formed with horizontally elongated, horizontally aligned slots 95 positioned adjacent to, but spaced from end post 90, which is the near end post in FIG. 9. The far end post is not shown, but is the same as the near end post. The slots 95 are at one of the ends only of the channel member 92.

The end portions of slots 95 that are closest to post 90 are of less width than the end portions 96 that are remote from post 90. The upper edges of the portions 96 of slots 95 may be substantially coplanar with the lower surface of web 93, and the vertical width of said portions 96, respectively, is sufficient to enable the outer end portions of the legs 97 of a generally hair-pin shaped leaf spring, generally designated 100, to spring outwardly through said portions when said legs are opposite to and in registration with said portions 96 of slots 95.

The U-bend 98 of spring 100 is received and retained in an upwardly opening recess formed in the upper surface of the upper portion of the clamping bar actuator 99. Curtains 101 corresponding to curtains 22, 23 of FIG. 4 depend from the upper body portion of the actuator 99.

The outer ends of legs 97 terminate in inwardly turned end portions 103 that extend toward each other so as to provide end surfaces facing generally toward the near end post 90, and the upper part of the plastic clamping bar actuator 99 is recessed between the outer ends of legs 97 so that said legs may be sprung inwardly against the yieldable resistance of the spring to be disposed within the outlines of the upwardly projected opposite sides of said actuator.

Said spring 100 is biased to spring the legs apart when not confined by the knife carriage, which is generally designated 104.

In FIG. 9 the knife carriage 104 is shown in a position spaced from post 90 and between spring 100 and the far end of the device, hence the clamping bar, which is generally designated 105, is in paper clamping relation to paper or other sheet material (not shown), and which material would extend across a slot 106 formed in the base member 91. Clamping bar 105, slot 106 and links 107 correspond to clamping bar 25, slot 11 and links 30 of FIGS. 26, and springs (not shown in FIG. 9) corresponding to springs 36 (FIGS. 2, 3) function to move the clamping bar downwardly into yieldable engagement with paper, or the like, upon movement of the carriage 104 away from post 90, the same as in FIGS. 2-6.

In FIG. 9 a horizontal pin 108 extends through, and is secured in the clamping bar actuator 99 and projects at its opposite ends, as at 109, through the slots 95 at the restricted width end portions of said slots and the lower sides of said slots may slidably support said pins which, in turn, may support the actuator, while pins corresponding to pins 24 of FIG. 2 may slidably support the opposite end of the actuator.

The outwardly projecting ends 109 of the pins 103 serve the same function as the pin 55 of FIG. ,3, as will appear later.

Referring to the knife carriage 104, interiorly, this is substantially the same as knife carriage 40 insofar as the inner plastic bearing 110 is concerned, as to shape and cross sectional contour and function, except that the opposite sides 113 of the bearing 110 are formed with slots 114 that terminate at 115 intermediate the ends of the bearing 110. The slots 114 receive the projecting ends 109 of pins 108 when the carriage is slid along member 92 toward post 90.

The opposed surfaces of the sides 113 of bearing 110 will slide across across the outer ends of the legs 97 of spring 100 when the knife carriage is moved toward end post 90, and as the carriage approaches the post 90, the closed ends 115 of slots 114 will engage the projecting ends 109 of pins 108 and further movement of the carriage toward post 90 will result in moving the clamping bar actuator toward post 90, thereby rotating links 107 clockwise, as seen in FIG. 9, to move them in the same positions as the links 31 (FIG. 2) thereby elevating the clamping bar 105, in exactly the same manner as described for releasing and lifting the clamping member 25 of FIGS. 2-6.

The position of the spring 100 in FIG. 9 relative to the near end of the clamping bar actuator 99 is such that as soon as the projecting ends 109 of the pin 108 engage the closed ends 115 of slots 114 the far end of the carriage, as seen in FIG. 9 will have cleared the other ends of legs 97, hence as the clamping bar actuator continues to be moved toward post 90, the legs 97 of the spring 100 will no longer be restrained by the side walls of the upper member 92 against spreading, but will be drawn toward post 90 and will spread until the end portions 103 extend across the far end faces of the sides 113 of the bearing 110, when the knife carriage engages the post 90, the clamping member 105 will be fully elevated.

When carriage 104 is against post 90 and the clamping bar is elevated, and paper is positioned across slot 106 for being cut, the cutting operation will be performed by moving the carriage away from post 90, and immediately upon such movement, the clamping bar actuator will be moved away from post 90, through engagement between carriage 104 and the ends 103 of legs 97, and the clamping bar or member 105 will be lowered. During this movement, the legs 97 will be cammed inwardly and when the links 107 have been swung to lock the clamping bar in a down position, the portions 103 and the spring will clear the far ends of the sides 113 and the carriage 104 may continue to the other end of the device, or until the cutting operation is completed.

The difliculty in replacing a cutting blade has been overcome in this particular modification (FIG.

In FIGS. 9, 10, 11 a depending flange 117 is shown as part of carriage 104, which substantially corresponds with flange 43 in FIG. 4 except that, as seen in FIG. 10, this flange is formed with a pair of inclined, but longitudinally aligned, spaced slots, 118 and intermediate these slots is a threaded opening 119.

A blade 120 of a shape and kind similar to blade 45 shown in FIG. 2, is formed with an elongated slot 122 parallel with the parallel opposite cutting edges of said blade and midway between the latter.

A face plate 123 is positioned over the other side of flange 117 and this flange has a pair of projections 124 that are adapted to extend through slot 122 in the blade at the ends of said slot, and to also project into inclined slots 118 in the' flange 117. A screw 125 extends through an opening in the face plate, and into threaded engagement with the threads on opening 119. This screw has a knurled head 126 for tightening it, and when so tightened the blade is clamped stationary, but the screw cannot fully be withdrawn from the face plate, hence it will not be lost, and may also function as a handle for moving the face plate and blade longitudinally of slots 118 to an elevated position, when the lower end of the blade is out of slot 106, to a lowered position when the blade is in the slot in cutting position. In FIG. 10, the elevated position is indicated in dotted or broken lines 127.

The angle of the slots 118 relative to horizontal, is such that the blade 120 will have its cutting edge facing generally away from post 90, as seen in FIG. 10, to perform the cutting operation when the carriage 104 is moved away from said post.

By the above structure, the blade may be quickly changed, or inverted, and restored to operative position.

The carriage 104 FIG. 9 shows a further modification in that the upper portion that is adapted to be grasped by the hand of an operator is substantially widened, to

; provide a pair of blade compartments 128 at opposite sides of the central portion through which the upper member 92 extends.

Spare blades 130 (FIG. 11) are adapted to be held in their compartments, or magazines, and removable plugs or closures 131 close the ends of the compartments. The widening of the hand gripping portion of the carriage is quite desirable, and the upper side may be convexly rounded to fit the hand. The ends of the fingers may curl under the portions on which the compartments are formed to provide a better and more comfortable grip.

I claim:

1. A device for cutting paper and the like, comprising:

(a) an elongated base member having a blade receiving slot extending longitudinally of the upper surface thereof for reciprocal passage of a cutting blade therein;

(b) an elongated paper clamp extending substantially the length of said base member above and parallel with said upper surface thereof and adjacent to one side of said slot;

(c) a pair of posts rigidly secured to opposite ends of said base member and extending upwardly therefrom and in which the opposite ends of said clamp are vertically reciprocal for movement toward and away from said base member for clamping and releasing paper between said clamp and said base member;

(d) a horizontally elongated clamp actuator spaced above and parallel to said clamp;

(e) said actuator being supported on said posts for horizontally reciprocal movement longitudinally of said clamp;

(f) means connecting said clamp and said actuator at a plurality of horizontally spaced points intermediate said posts for uniform vertical movement of said clamp toward said base member to a paper clamping position upon horizontal movement of said actuator in one direction and for uniform vertical movement of said clamp away from said base member upon horizontal movement of said actuator in the other direction;

(g) a blade carriage having a blade thereon extending into said slot and adjacent to said clamp for cutting paper when said clamp is in said paper clam-ping position;

(h) means secured between said posts for supporting said blade carrier for horizontally reciprocal movement substantially from .post to post at either end of said base member.

2. The device of claim 1, in which:

(i) said means connecting said clamp and said actuator including a spring element at each of said spaced points for yieldably urging said clamp toward said paper clamping position.

3. The device of claim 1, including:

(i) actuator moving means actuated upon movement of said blade carriage in a cutting operation for moving said actuator in said one direction and deactuated upon movement of said blade carriage in a noncutting operation for movement of said actuation in said other direction.

4. The device of claim 1, including:

(i) means releasably connecting said blade carriage to said actuator for moving said actuator in said one direction upon moving said blade carriage in a cutting direction and for moving said actuator in said other direction upon moving said blade carriage in the opposite direction of said cutting direction.

5. The device of claim 1, including:

(i) means releasably connecting said blade carriage to said actuator during the initial cutting movement of said carriage for moving said actuator in said one direction thereby moving said clamp toward said base member; and,

(j) means on said actuator releasably engageable by said blade carriage during the final movement of said carriage for moving said actuator'in said other direction thereby moving said clamp away from said base member.

6. A device for cutting paper and the like, comprising:

(a) an elongated base member having a blade receiving slot extending longitudinally of the upper surface thereof for reciprocal passage of a cutting blade therein;

(b) an elongated paper clamp extending substantially the length of said base member above and parallel with said upper surface thereof and adjacent to one side of said slot;

(c) a pair of posts rigidly secured to opposite ends of said base member and extending upwardly therefrom and in which the opposite ends of said clamp are vertically reciprocal for movement toward and away from said base member for clamping and releasing paper between said clamp and said base member;

(d) a horizontally elongated clamp actuator spaced above and parallel to said clamp;

(e) said actuator being supported on said posts for horizontally reciprocal movement longitudinally of said clamp;

(f) means connecting said clamp and said actuator at a plurality of horizontally spaced points for vertical movement of said clamp toward and away from said base member upon horizontal movement of said actuator longitudinally of said clamp;

(g) said means including a spring element at each of said spaced points for yieldably urging said clamp toward said base member;

(h) a blade carriage having a blade thereon extending into said slot and adjacent to said clamp for cutting paper when said clamp is in said paper clamping position;

(i) means extending between said posts supporting said blade carrier for horizontally reciprocal movement substantially from post to post.

7. The device of claim 6, including:

(j) means releasably connecting said blade carriage to said actuator during the initial cutting movement of said carriage for moving said actuator longitudinally of said clamp to thereby move said clamp toward said base member; and,

(k) means on said actuator releasably engageable by said carriage during final movement of said carriage for moving said actuator longitudinally of said clamp to thereby move said clamp away from said base member.

8. The device of claim 6, in which:

(j) said actuator is manually horizontally reciprocal to effect a vertical movement of said clamp toward and away from paper clamping position.

9. The device of claim 6, in which:

(i) the cutting blade in said blade carriage is formed with a cutting edge which will make a cutting stroke when drawn in either of two directions.

10. The device of claim 6, in which:

(j the edge of said blade of said carriage which extends into said slot is V-shaped thereby presenting a cutting edge when said carriage is moved in either direction.

11. The device of claim 10, in which:

(k) said blade is formed from a pair of identical parts which cooperate to form a V-shaped cutting edge.

12. A device for cutting paper and the like, comprising:

(a) an elongated tubular base member having an uppermost surface and a blade receiving slot extending longitudinally of said surface;

(b) an elongated clamping member extending substantially the length of said base member and having one edge thereof spaced above and parallel with said ulppermost surface and adjacent to one side of said s ot;

(c) a pair of posts secured to either end of said base member and extending upwardly from said uppermost surface and having guide members projecting inwardly from the oppositely inwardly directed sides thereof which guide members are adapted to restrain the opposite ends of said clamping member to vertically reciprocal movement toward and away from said uppermost surface;

(d) a horizontally elongated clamp actuator member spaced above and parallel to said clamp member;

(e) said actuator member being supported on and between said posts for horizontally reciprocal movement longitudinally of said clamping member;

(f) a plurality of horizontally spaced links extending between and pivotally connected to said actuator member and said clam-ping member for imparting a uniform vertical movement to said clamping member throughout the length thereof upon moving said actuator member horizontally;

(g) means for yieldably urging said clamping member toward said base member;

(h) a blade carriage carrying a blade thereon, an edge portion of which extends into said slot;

(1) means extending between said posts for supporting said carriage for horizontally reciprocal cutting mottlement substantially the distance between said pos s.

13. In a paper cutter having a base member over which paper and the like to be cut is adapted to be positioned, a horizontally elongated support spaced above said base member, an elongated clamp spaced above and parallel with said base member supported for vertical reciprocable movement, a carriage including a cutting blade thereon movable therewith carried by said support for movement thereon away from one end of said support to the opposite end thereof and back to said one end with said cutting blade in cutting relation to paper clamped against said base member by said clam-p, clamp supporting means supporting said clamp elevated above said base member when said carriage is at said one end of said support, the improvement comprising:

(a) a clamp actuator movable relative to said support longitudinally thereof away from said one end of the latter operatively connected with said clamp for moving said clamp downwardly to clamp paper against said base member immediately upon movement of said actuator away from said one end of said support;

(b) carriage engaging means on said actuator in releasable engagement with said carriage when the latter is at said one end of said support for moving said actuator away from said one end under the influence of movement of said carriage away from said one end;

(c) connecting means connecting said actuator with said clamp for 50 moving said clamp downwardly upon said movement of said actuator away from said one end, said connecting means including means for releasably locking said clamps in yieldable clampin-g engagement with paper on said base at substantially uniform tension at all points along said clamp until said carriage is returned to said one end of said support; and

(d) releasing means rigid on said actuator adjacent to said one end engageable with said carriage upon said return of said carriage to said one end for moving said actuator to release said means for locking said clamp in said clamping engagement with said paper and to move said clamp to said elevated position.

14. Ina structure as defined in claim 13,

(c) said carriage engaging means and .said releasing means projecting laterally from said actuator; and (f) means on said support for moving said carriage engaging means out of operative engagement with said carriage upon movement of said carriage a predetermined distance from said one end.

15. In a construction as defined in claim 13,

(e) a slot in said base member into which said blade projects when said blade is in paper cutting position;

v(f) a blade clamp including a screw for releasably securing said blade clamps to said carriage in blade clamping relation with said blade extending into said slot;

(g) means on said blade clamp and carriage supporting said blade and blade clamp for generally upward movement of the cutting edge of said blade out of said slot and for removal of said blade and blade clamps from said carriage after said upward movement of said blade and blade clamps.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,013,893 9/1935 lMatt' hews 83-455 2,327,223 8/ 1943 Silver 83459 2,790,498 4/1957 Carsca-llen 83-383 2,83 8,825 6/1958 Knollenberg 8'3386 3,077,805 2/ 1963 Stanley 83389 X WILLIAM DYER, 111., Primary Examiner. 

1. A DEVICE FOR CUTTING PAPER AND THE LIKE, COMPRISING: (A) AN ELONGATED BASE MEMBER HAVING A BLADE RECEIVING SLOT EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY OF THE UPPER SURFACE THEREOF FOR RECIPROCAL PASSAGE OF A CUTTING BLADE THEREIN; (B) AN ELONGATED PAPER CLAMP EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY THE LENGTH OF SAID BASE MEMBER ABOVE AND PARALLEL WITH SAID UPPER SURFACE THEREOF AND ADJACENT TO ONE SIDE OF SAID SLOT; (C) A PAIR OF POSTS RIGIDLY SECURED TO OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID BASE MEMBER AND EXTENDING UPWARDLY THEREFROM AND IN WHICH THE OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID CLAMP ARE VERTICALLY RECIPROCAL FOR MOVEMENT TOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAID BASE MEMBER FOR CLAMPING AND RELEASING PAPER BETWEEN SAID CLAMP AND SAID BASE MEMBER; (D) A HORIZONTALLY ELONGATED CLAMP ACTUATOR SPACED ABOVE AND PARALLEL TO SAID CLAMP; (E) SAID ACTUATOR BEING SUPPORTED ON SAID POSTS FOR HORIZONTALLY RECIPROCAL MOVEMENT LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID CLAMP; (F) MEANS CONNECTING SIAD CLAMP AND SAID ACTUATOR AT A PLURALITY OF HORIZONTALLY SPACED POINTS INTERMEDIATE SAID POSTS FOR UNIFORM VERTICAL MOVEMENT OF SAID CLAMP TOWARD SAID BASE MEMBER TO A PAPER CLAMPING POSITION UPON HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT OF SAID ACTUATOR IN ONE DIRECTION AND FOR UNIFORM VERTICAL MOVEMENT OF SAID CLAMP AWAY FROM SAID BASE MEMBER UPON HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT OF SAID ACTUATOR IN THE OTHER DIRECTION; (G) A BLADE CARRIAGE HAVING A BLADE THEREON EXTENDING INTO SAID SLOT AND ADJACENT TO SAID CLAMP FOR CUTTING PAPER WHEN SAID CLAMP IS IN SAID PAPER CLAMPING POSITION; (H) MEANS SECURED BETWEEN SAID POSTS FOR SUPPORTING SAID BLADE CARRIER FOR HORIZONTALLY RECIPROCAL MOVEMENT SUBSTANTIALLY FROM POST TO POST AT EITHER END OF SAID BASE MEMBER. 